Irish
Life Health Intermediate/Masters and Juvenile B & Relays Cross Country
Galway teams will travel in force this
weekend to the last Major National cross country championships, the Irish Life
Health Intermediate/Master Juvenile B & Relays events, which will be held
in Avondale, Rathdrum Co Wicklow on Saturday 8th February. A programme of
Juvenile development races and the Inter Club Relays at Juvenile level will
also take place.
The Intermediate men’s team for the 8k race
is a strong one, led by Abaas Edris of
Castlegar with strong GCH representation from David Carter, David Bohan, Naoise
O’Gibne and Conor Deane to name but a few, and the squad should be in medal
contention,
The Intermediate ladies’ race will be
held over 5km, and the squad includes the likes of Caron Ryan of Craughwell
(third in the Novice at Christmas) and Catherine Thornton of Crusaders, with
Castlegar AC forming the backbone of the team
Galway Masters Ladies O35 squad and the
GCH club team will be both be in with a very strong medal chance, with Jane Ann
Meehan, Niamh Hennelly and Sinead Foran of GCH among the standout names, while
the Over 50 ladies are another squad with definite silverware potential, with
the likes of Mary Kealy and Carmel Brannigan going well
In the Men’s Masters Races, Galway will
field three teams, at Over 35, 50 and 65 level with all three sides well
prepared under the guidance of team manager Sean McDermott.
The Over 50 Men’s team has possibly the
best chance of winning medals, with Ian Egan, Dave Evans, Gerry Carty and Niall
Murphy all strong competitors on the country. At Over 65 level, the legendary
Martin McEvilly returns, and along with Martin Kearney, and Tony Fahy, makes up
a strong GCH team, with a county team also competing.
In the Over 35 Men’s event, Galway will
field a strong team in a very competitive event with Ger Hartnett and Sean
Burke of Tuam, Bruin O’Connor of GCH and Mark Davis of Craughwell some of the
high-quality team assembled by the selectors.
Maree
8km
The Maree 8KM Run is back for its 12th
year in 2020.
This scenic run takes place in the
surrounds of Maree, Oranmore, Co. Galway on Sunday, February 9th next
at 12 noon.
This picturesque circuit has been
measured to AI standards, will be chip timed, and has been approved by the
Galway County Board.
The route takes participants from the start
point at Maree Community Centre out onto Galway Bay, down the picturesque Tawin
peninsula, and back to Maree Community Centre.
The event will raise funds to develop
local sporting facilities in Maree, and is organised by Maree Athletics Club in
conjunction with the Maree Development Organisation
Scottish
Combined Events Championships
Liam Shaw, Athenry AC, travelled to the
fantastic Glasgow Emirates Arena on 1st February to take part
in the Scottish Combined Events Championships and came away with a bronze
medal. The competition was tough in a very talented field. Shaw impressed
particularly in the Shot Putt as he broke the championship best by over 5
metres and smashed the Scottish record in the process.
GCH
Award
Galway City Harriers was named as the
Development Club of the Year by Athletics Ireland for the first time in its
history. The award is testament to the excellent work at Juvenile level by the
club.
GCH athlete Conor Hoade was also named
as Galway Athlete of the Year
AAI
Games
The AAI Indoor Games take place this
Sunday 9th February in the National Indoor Arena in Dublin
Assistant
Coaching Course
There is an introductory coaching course
being held in St Brigid’s College Loughrea on Friday 14th February 14th
and Friday 28th February 6-9.30pm and entry is
now up online on https://www.athleticsireland.ie/index.php/coaching
if anyone wishes to register.
